Switch-operating mechanism.



W. 1. PRICE & J. M. CRAIG.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION man JULYI. I913- RENEWED JAN. 23. I915.

Patented July 4, 1916.

s SHEETS-SHEET l.

w. J. PRICE & J. MfCRAIG.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JULYI. I913. RENEWED JAN. 23. I915.

Patented July 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 n uemto'a W-. J. PRICE 6; J. M. CRMG.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JuLYI. 913. RENEWED JAN. 23, I915.

Patented July 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- n'AsmNsmrv m: NOHPIIS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. PRICE AND JOSEPH M. CRAIG, F POTEAU, OKLAHOMA; SAID CRAIG ASSIGNOR TO SAID PRICE.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1913, Serial No. 776,832. Renewed January 23, 1915. Serial No. 4,080.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, W'iLLiAM J. PRICE and J osEri-i M. CRAIG, citizens of the United States, residing at Poteau, in the county of Le Flore and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switch operating mechanism for electric street railways, interurban lines, steam railways, etc, the primary object of the invention being to provide simple, reliable and eflicient switch mechanism whereby switches may be thrown through means under control of authorized persons upon the cars of a railway system, thereby enabling the switches to be automatically operated and cars routed with convenience and facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism which is not liable to get out of order, which embodies means for indicating the position of the switch, which permits of the taking up of slack in all connections when required, which insures protection of the operating parts from inclement weather, ordinary moving trafiic, malicious persons, etc., and which obviates liability of the switch being accidentally or improperly thrown.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section of the switch mechanism complete. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken cated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the switch throwing levers per 86, showing the sliding cover thereof opened. Fi 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of one of the clevises and tensioning bolts. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, through one of the switch throwing devices complete, showing the sliding cover and its shifting means. Fig. 10 is an inner elevational view of the parts shown in Fig.

substantially on the plane indi-- 9, showing the associated track and guard rails. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a car showing the trip mechanism thereon. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional elevation on line 12-12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section through a circuit closing device for operating an electric signal. Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view on line 14-1l of Fig. 13. Figs. 15 and 16 are detail transverse sections on lines 15-15 -and 1616 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate mainline rails, 3 and 4 branch line rails, and 5 a switch operable by means of a sliding bar or rod 6, to connect the rails for travel of a car or train along the main line or between the main and branch lines. Arranged at one side of the junction point of these rails is a box or casing 7 in which is arranged a substantially diamond shaped, horizontally disposed switch operating crank 8 pivoted to swing laterally of the trackway on a vertical axis 9 arranged in transverse alineinent with the opposite lateral corner portions 10 and 11 of said plate. One end of the bar or rod 6 is pivotally connected with the corner portions 12 of the longer arm of the plate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, so that opposite lateral rocking motions of the plate will slide the bar in one direction or the other to open or close the switch.

Arranged in the main and branch'lines at desired distances from the switch point are. switch throwing devices 13, each comprising a vertically disposed, substantially triangular plate arranged within an inclosing box or casing 14L along side one of the track rails, each plate being mounted at its depending portion or vertex upon a transverse rock shaft 15 and having its upper edge provided with contact points 16 and 17 arranged equidistant on opposite sides ofits axis, one of said points being normally projected upward and the other downward.

The switch throwing devices 13 are arranged along side adjacent main and branch track rails, and the switch throwing device in the branch track has its shaft 15 extended so that its outer end will lie in the plane of the outer end of the shaft of the levers 18 providing upper and lower crank arms connected respectively by upper and lower pairs of wires or cables 19 and 20 with the corner portions 10 and 11 of the plate 8, whereby when a switch throwing device in the main line is depressed to throw the switch the switch throwing device in the branch line will be set to return the switch to normal position, and vice versa.

Each box or casing 14 is provided with a laterally sliding cover :21 normally closed to house and protect the switch throwing device and adapted to be moved laterally to expose the same. This cover is slidably and pivotally connected as at 21 to crank arms 22 on vertical rock shafts having other cranks 24 coupled by links or connecting rods 25 to a laterally movable guard rail 26. The rail 20 is disposed along side the adjacent track rail and is pivotally mounted at 20' to tilt on supporting brackets 27 and provided with crank arms 27 connected with the links 25, a contractile spring 28 being provided to hold the guard rail in contact with the track rail, which spring is connected with a crank arm 2S depending from the guard rail and with the adjacent tie 29. The ends of the guard rail are beveled or cut away to permit the flange oi. the car wheel to pass between the same and the track rail the flange serving to press the guard rail laterally away from the track rail and there- .by, through the connections described, slide the cover 21 to open position, whereby the switch throwing device will be exposed for depression. iVhen the car passes beyond the guard rail the latter is released and is returned to normal position by the spring or springs 28, thus sliding the cover 21 to closed position, as will be readily understood.

For the purpose of indicating to the crew of an approaching car or train whether the switch is open or closed, I provide a switch target or signal 30 mounted upon a vertical shaft 31 carrying a sprocket wheel 32. EX- tending around this sprocket wheel is a chain section 38 forming part of a looped cable 34 the ends of which are connected with the corners of the crank plate 8 in line with the longitudinal axis of the latter and at right angles to tliecorners 10 and 11., whereby when said plate is turned to open or close the switch the signal target will be correspondingly adjusted.

The ends of the various wire cables employed, and particularly the cables 19 and 20, which are maintained at all times taut or under tension, are preferably connected to the operating parts to which they are coupled by coupling members consisting of a tension bolt 35 and U-shaped clevis 36, the bolt being provided with an adjusting and retaining nut 37. By this means any slack which may exist in. the cables at any time may be taken up to secure an accurate motion of the ope 'ating parts under all conditions of service.

The switch throwing devices are adapted to be depressed by tripping devices arranged at suitable points upon a car or other vehicle. Each of those tripping devices consists of a contact wheel or roller 38 journaled upon a vertically movable stem 39 slidable in a guide 40 upon a truck frame or other suitable part of the car or vehicle. At its upper end the stem has a pivoted slip-joint connection, as at 41, with one arm of an intermediately pivoted lever 42, the opposite arm of which is jointed to the lower end of a vertically movable rod 43, adjustable by means of a hand lover or other operating device 44 to raise or depress the contact wheel. It will thus be understood that when the car approaches the switch from either side of the switch point, the flanges of the wheels will engage and operate the contiguous guard rail to openthe cover of the adjacent switch throwing device, so that, if desired the motorman or any other authorized person on the car may throw the switch by operating the lever 4.4 to depress the switch throwing device. When the car passes the switch point and is thus shunted from one line to the other the other switch throwing device may be operated in like manner to return the switch to normal position.

For the purpose of enabling electric signals to be transmitted along the line of way, I provide at the switch points, block stations and other desired places, electric signals (not shown), which may be of any suitable type, and circuit closing devices adapted to be operated by the tripping devices on the cars for controlling said signals. As shown particularly in Figs. 13 and 14, each circuit closing device comprises a casing 45 having a sliding cover 46 and in which is arranged a rock shaft 47 carrying a tilting plate 48 having spaced contact points 50 and 50, which parts are similar in construction to the like parts of each switch throwing device. The cover 46, like the cover 21 of the casing 14, is also slidably and pivotally connected to crank arms 51 on rock shafts 52 having other cranks coupled to links 54, whereby the cover is adapted to be opened and closed by a guard rail of the character hereinbefore described. A pivoted circuit closing switch 55 is arranged in the casing and its pivot 56 is connected to one of the conductors 57 of the circuit, said switch being movable into and out of engagement with a contact 58 connected with the other conductor 59 of the circuit. A link rod 60 couples the switch to the plate 48, so that when said plate is rocked in opposite directions the circuit will be respectively closed and opened to set and release or to energize and deenergize the signal. The circuit closlid lnl

aroachin car runnin in the osite direction.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the invention provides a switch throwing mechanism which is not only simple, reliable and efficient in construction and capable of being easily and cheaply installed and operated to throw the switch as desired by the crew of a car or train, but which will permit of the passage of pedestrians and ordinary traflic vehicles across the trackway'without liability of accidentally operating the switch.

It will also be seen that the construction described provides a switch mechanism in which, by extending the wires through conduits, all the parts of the switch mechanism may be protected from the action of the elements and liability of injury and to a large extent from damage by malicious persons.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a car switch operating mechanism, the combination with the tripping member carried by the, car and the switch point, of a tripping box extending parallel with the track, tripping mechanism connected at one end to the switch point and projecting into the tripping box at the opposite end, a slidably removable cover for the tripping box, and automatic means operated by the approaching wheel of the car for removing the cover to open the tripping box, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination of a switch point, a switch bar, a substantially diamond shaped crank plate mounted to turn on a vertical axis in a direction transversely of the rails, said plate being pivotally coupled to said switch point, depressible switch throwing devices at opposite sides of the switch point, each comprising a rocking member having spaced contact portions, cranks connected with the crank plate, cranks connected with the switch throwing devices, cables connecting the cranks ofthe switch throwing devices with the cranks of the crank plate, and wheel controlled means for covering and uncovering said switch throwing devices.

3. In a switch operating mechanism, the

Gopiee of this patent may be obtained for iive cents-each, by addressing the combination of a switch point, a crank for operating the same, depressible switch throwing devices at opposite sides of the switch point, each comprising a rocking member having spacedcontact portions,

cranks connected with the switch throwing devices, cables connecting said cranks with the switch operating crank, and wheel controlled means for covering and uncovering said switch throwing devices.

4:. In a switch operating mechanism, the

combination of a switch point, a crank for operating the same, depressible switch throwing devices at opposite sides of the switch point, each comprising a rocking member having spaced contact portions, cranks connected with the switch throwing devices, cables connecting said cranks with the switch operating crank, devices for normally covering the switch throwing devices, and wheel controlled means, for moving said covering devices to uncovering position, said covering devices being provided with means for automatically retracting the same.

' 5. In a switch operating mechanism, a casing, a switch operating device mounted therein, a cover for said casing, a laterally movableguard rail adapted to be operated by the wheels of the rolling stock to move said cover to open position, and means for automatically retracting the guard rail and cover.

6. In a switch operating mechanism, a casing, a switch operating device mounted therein, a laterally movable cover therefor, a laterally movable guard rail, operating connections between the guard rail and cover for shifting the cover to open and closed positions, and means for normally holding the guard rail and cover in retracted position.

7. In a switch operating system, the combination of a track switch, devices in the line of way foroperating said track switch, covers for said devices, wheel operated guard rails for shifting said covers to expose said devices, a traveling vehicle, and meanson said vehicle for respectively actuating said devices. 7

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. PRICE. JOSEPH M. CRAIG.

Witnesses:

R. ENOCHS, F. C. THOMAS.

"Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

